Cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein measurement--a bedside test in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
C-reactive protein (C-RP) determinations were performed by the Latex agglutination method on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 212 patients with clinical features suggestive of meningitis. Patients were grouped as follows Group I: bacterial meningitis and partially treated bacterial meningitis (n = 22). Group II: viral encephalitis (n = 11). Group III: tuberculous meningitis (n = 18). Group IV: (i) febrile convulsions (n = 87); (ii) epileptic seizures (n = 70); (iii) intracranial haemorrhage (n = 4). C-RP was a better indicator of bacterial meningitis (sensitivity 91 per cent) than the Gram's stain (sensitivity 46 per cent). C-RP was positive in 91 per cent of patients in Group I, none in Groups II and III and 0.6 per cent in Group IV. C-RP determination in CSF proved to be a useful indicator of bacterial meningitis and served to distinguish it from viral encephalitis, tuberculous meningitis, febrile convulsions and other central nervous system disorders.
John
M
M
Department of Microbiology, St. John's Medical College, Karnataka, India.
Raj
I S
IS
Macaden
R
R
Raghuveer
T S
TS
Yeswanth
M
M
Meundi
D M
DM
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis
D002097:C-Reactive Protein